Trump’s overseas application for US green card rule unnerves Asian workers

US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new policy on May 22 that will significantly alter the green card application process for many individuals already in the United States. The agency will now only grant "adjustment of status," which allows applicants to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country, under "extraordinary circumstances." This change will compel most applicants to pursue consular processing abroad, requiring them to leave the US for interviews at overseas embassies or consulates and await case processing. This shift is expected to disrupt the families, careers, and settlement plans of Asian workers, who are already contending with lengthy visa backlogs.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy requiring foreigners seeking green cards to apply from outside the United States via the State Department, rather than adjusting their status while already in the US. This change, criticized by immigration advocates, marks a significant shift in immigration policy by the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security stated the policy aims to align the immigration system with the law and prevent loopholes. This move could force many applicants currently in the US to leave the country for processing, potentially impacting mixed-status families and vulnerable individuals. The policy is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy requiring foreigners temporarily in the U.S. who are seeking permanent residency (green cards) to return to their home countries to apply. This change, effective immediately, aims to ensure the immigration system operates as intended and discourages the use of loopholes. A USCIS spokesman stated that exceptions will only be made in extraordinary circumstances. This policy shift means individuals currently in the U.S. on temporary status must now leave the country to pursue a green card, rather than applying domestically.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new guidance stating that foreign nationals in the US on temporary visas who wish to apply for Green Cards must generally return to their home countries to do so. The Trump administration's policy, announced on May 22, 2026, aims to reinforce the legal immigration system by ensuring Green Card applications follow standard procedures and to prevent what officials describe as "loopholes." USCIS clarified that adjusting status from within the US is a discretionary benefit, not an automatic right. Immigration officers are instructed to evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as visa violations and compliance with admission terms. While acknowledging limited exceptions for visa categories with "dual intent," the agency emphasized these do not guarantee Green Card approval or alter the expectation that temporary visitors will depart the US.